Abstract: A method of processing items associated with a workflow includes accessing information that specifies, for each item to be processed, each of one or more primary input items required under normal conditions to produce the item. The method also includes accessing information that specifies, for at least one primary input item, an alternative input item that may replace the primary input item under alternative conditions in producing the item to be processed. The items to be processed are ordered such that: (a) each item to be processed that has one or more primary input items is placed ahead of its primary input items; and (b) each primary input item that has one or more alternative input items is placed ahead of its alternative input items provided doing so is not inconsistent with the ordering according to condition (a) and is also not inconsistent with the ordering according to condition (b).

Abstract: A computer-implemented method of processing items associated with a workflow includes accessing information that specifies, for each item to be processed, each of one or more primary input items that may be required under normal conditions to produce the item to be processed. The method also includes accessing information that specifies, for at least one primary input item, an alternative input item that may replace the primary input item under alternative conditions in producing the item to be processed. The items to be processed are ordered such that: (a) each item to be processed that has one or more primary input items is placed ahead of its primary input items; and (b) each primary input item that has one or more alternative input items is placed ahead of its alternative input items provided doing so is not inconsistent with the ordering of items ordered according to condition (a) and is also not inconsistent with the ordering of items ordered according to condition (b).

Abstract: A process for modeling at least a portion of a workflow includes accessing a computer data structure to represent an acyclic directed graph (10) including multiple nodes (12) and one or more edges (14), each edge (14) linking two adjacent nodes (12). The value of a function at a selected node (12) is requested, the value of the function at the selected node (12) depending on values of the function at one or more adjacent nodes (12) lying in a first direction from the selected node (12). If a cached value of the function at the selected node (12) is not assured to be valid, then the value of the function at the selected node (12) is recomputed based on the values of the function at the one or more adjacent nodes (12) and then returned. If the cached value is assured to be valid, then the cached value is returned without recomputing the value of the function at the selected node (12).

Abstract: An automatic control system for an aircraft has a first controller connected to the pilot's operating controls. The first controller manipulates the operating controls so that goals, expressed in terms of selected aircraft parameters, are achieved. A second controller supplies a series of goals to the first controller so that the aircraft will perform desired maneuvers. A third controller acts as a mission planner, and supplies desired maneuvers to the second controller in accordance with overall mission plans.